The Exchange is the Weekly’s poetry corner, where a poem or piece of writing is presented with a prompt. Readers are welcome to respond to the prompt with original poems, and pieces may be featured in the next issue of the Weekly.
The Taj Mahal by Chima “Naira” Ikoro
the taj mahal is not much different than a balloon release
we do what we can with whatever we have
in remembrance of whoever we don’t have anymore.
some of us make a mosque that becomes one of the modern seven wonders of the world
some of us tie together shoe strings and toss them over powerlines.
but none of this has ever brought anyone back.
not even this building, he must have thought to himself.
but I will let these balloons go just in case.
tourists post drake lyrics they threw into google translate
as captions for photos they took in front of what many don’t know is a resting place
someone is sleeping here, we ought to be quiet.
somewhere in psalm, the workers labor in vain unless God builds the house
explains why no matter how much i make in remembrance, i cannot rebuild you
cannot weld my memories together and make a human
cannot fashion you back into existence.
none of this will bring you back, but just in case it matters at all
i will build this. maybe it will help.
and the workers labor in vain.
Prompt:
“How do you show love or appreciation for people, places, or things you are physically apart from?”
This could be a poem, journal entry, or a stream-of-consciousness piece. Submissions could be new or formerly written pieces.
Submissions can be sent to bit.ly/ssw-exchange or via email to chima.ikoro@southsideweekly.com
Featured below is a reader response to a previous prompt. The last poem and prompt can be found online.
Rutina de Sueño by Jocelyn Martinez-Rosales
Se ha vuelto cotidiano que me despierte mi corazón
Se me quiere salir por la garganta
Le crece piernas en mis sueños
Jalonea mis venas queriendo desatarse
Quiere correr hacia ti
Chima Ikoro is the Weekly’s Community Builder.